Visual Language Magazine Vol 2 No 12 December 2013

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VL

VISUAL LANGUAGE

contemporary fine art

VL

December Volume 2 No. 12

Kari Tirrell KariTirrell.com

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VL

VISUAL LANGUAGE

Contemporary Fine Art

VisualLanguageMagazine.com Subscribe Free Today. http://visuallanguagemagazine.com/subscribe.html

December 2013 Vol 2 No 12 ŠGraphicsOneDesign1998-2014 2 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


VL Cover Artist

Kari Tirrell PSA, NPS, PSWC-DP A self-taught artist, Kari Tirrell spent her formative years drawing people and animals in graphite, charcoal, and ink. She won her first award in an art contest at age 11. After many years of drawing, Kari changed direction and started painting abstracts in acrylic, selling her work to collectors around the globe. She eventually returned to realism, and soft pastel became her medium of choice. Kari’s work has been juried into many regional, national, and international exhibitions, and has received numerous awards. She lives in Gig Harbor, Washington, and is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Northwest Pastel Society, and is a Distinguished Pastellist with the Pastel Society of the West Coast.

http://www.karitirrell.com/

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Valerie Travers Working in Acrylic, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media Landscapes, Seascapes, Abstracts, and Florals

www.valerietravers.com

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content Cover Artist Kari Tirrell

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Kari Tirrell, Contemporary Realism

Painter’s Keys - Robert Genn 11 CFAI Colors on My Palette 26 Terry Honstead

Read the up close and personal interviews from CFAI.co Find out more about the artist, their inspirations and how they approach their work.

VL Artist Features - 30 Shirley Quaid, Linda McCoy, Niki Gulley, Cheryl Smith, Laura Brown, Nancee Jean Busse, and Filomena de Andrade Booth

ARTSPAN New Works - 50 VL Studio Interview with Vic Vicini 56 It was a time of discovery and awakening for me. During those early years in my twenties, art was not accepted as a way of life within my family and it was not respected as a career path. However, life seems to balance itself out. After several years of attempting to work in other fields, art resurfaced and I pursued my life’s dream.

VL Gallery Visit with the Mirada Fine Art 78 Mirada Fine Art opened its doors in November 2009 with a philosophy that a fine art gallery should be more than just a building that houses art…no matter how spectacular the art is.

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ARTSPAN Spotlight with Canadian Artist Robert D Fiacco 98 When did you realize you loved art and wanted to be an artist? When I was about 11 years old my father started a small business that involved selling reproductions of famous paintings; we had dozens of these paintings hanging all over the place.

VL/Artspan Studio Visit with Kari Tirrell 114 I never intended to be a professional artist. Like many artists, I drew constantly throughout my childhood. Although my lack of formal art education has not been a hindrance for me, had I known I’d become a professional artist someday I probably would have chosen to focus on art in school.

VL Barry Scharf 124 Approaching the Holiday Season Well it’s that time of year again when thoughts of the holidays that are fast approaching give us pause to reflect on what we give thanks for in our families and friends. As artists, we often think of gifts in a personal way. We draw and paint, we saw and glue. We manufacture our own gifts like elves toiling in the North Pole.

VL Interview with Artist Jan Rigden Clay 136 I grew up in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand. We lived on a dairy farm at the end of a peninsula with no close neighbours but a lot of bush and ocean...

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content

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VL Photographer Matthew McCarthy 146 As an artist and a historian, I am keenly aware of the diversity of automotive design that used to exist, most notably in the cars of the 1930’s through the 1970’s.

CFAI.co Art Challenge 156 Best of Show - Andy Smith , First Place, Ally Benbrook, Second Place Tina Bohlman,, Third Place Barbara Churchly

A Christmas Story with Suzy Pal Powell 160 Wandering through a Christian bookstore in the late 90’s, Suzy Pal Powell stopped in front of the beautiful ‘wooly cards’ and sighed deeply.

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Artist of the Day “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” ― Edgar Degas

Sign up today.

Beth van Deventer “I paint portraits with the objective of creating beautiful, unique works of art that reveal the subject as I see them with an impressionistic interpretation of reality. My artwork comes out of my dogged (no pun intended) if not stubborn commitment to work hard and practice the fundamentals of drawing and painting.” http://bethv.com

artistofthedayvl.blogspot.com If you want to be featured as an Artist of the Day, contact Visual Language Magazine. VisualLanguageMagazine@gmail.com

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Carol Jo Smidt

www.caroljosmidt.com www.caroljosmidt.com

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carol@caroljosmidt.com


VL

VISUAL LANGUAGE MAGAZINE Contemporary Fine Art

Visual Language Magazine Staff Editorial Editor -in-Chief Laurie Pace Executive Editor Lisa Kreymborg Consulting Editor Nancy Medina Consulting Editor Diane Whitehead Consulting Editor Debbie Lincoln Feature Contributor Robert Genn Painter’s Keys CFAI Contributor Kimberly Conrad Feature Editor Art Reviews Hall Groat II Feature Writer Barry Scharf Feature Writer David Darrow VL Sponsor ARTSPAN Eric Sparre Advertising Contact: VisualLanguageMagazine@gmail.com Marketing and Development Executive Director Business/Management Stacey Hendren All Artwork is Copyrighted by the Individual Artists. Visual Language Vol 2 No 12

http://www.mattmccarthyphotos.com

www.viciniart.com

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Robert Genn’s Studio Book

A place and a time October 29, 2013 Dear Artist, Among the phone calls that came in over the weekend was one from Peter Gough of Glen Haven, Nova Scotia. Peter is a realist painter with an evolved, spiritual outlook. While painting with Peter a few years ago, I watched his almost religious zeal for light, atmosphere and luminosity. We’ve included some of his work at the top of the current clickback. Peter and I talked about our lifelong commitment to painting and the bad luck of my current condition. After a while there was a bit of a pause and Peter said, “I’d like to talk to you about immortality.” When I figured out where Peter was coming from, I realized his ideas were similar to mine. “Artists are blessed,” he said, “because the things we make carry on after us.” We agreed we owed it to our art to try to develop the highest levels of quality and mastery. Immortality is not a transient or fashionable happening, it’s a forever thing and, surprisingly, it’s the simple product of love and application.

Painter’s Keys - Robert Genn

Painter’s Keys with Robert Genn

Apart from the mysterious flow of daily work, there’s the objective study of our own progress as we move along. While books, workshops and demos are certainly useful, the silent study we do while travelling on our own easels is what really shows the way. When the world is cleared of baloney, which may never happen, the greatest art will still be there. It’s worthwhile for us earthlings to at least try to be part of the event. “Ars longa, vita brevis est,” said Hippocrates (460-377BC) “Life is short, art is long.” For many of us, our work shows a place and a time. I think of the places I’ve sat under balmy skies and then again in the drizzling rain in the back of a car. I was there. I’ve also been concerned that the thing on the easel was not my thing, and while I might own it for a while the thing will someday be out of my control. It would be nice to nail this conundrum down. Some years ago Peter Gough started putting GPS coordinates on the back of his paintings. Not a bad start. Best regards, Robert PS: “A part of me has become immortal, out of my control.” (Brian Eno) Esoterica: Thank you to the thousands who wrote personal emails, posts etc. We have made a careful archive of them, as we do for all responses to every letter. Some were positive and highly uplifting, others angry, sad and resigned. Many offered first-hand experience with the same or similar disorders, and some offered diet and other advice. Several dozen recommended carrot juice. Sara went out and bought a juicer and I’m drinking carrots as I write. Sara also burned the midnight oil reading every one of your emails and has assembled a clickback of informational material that may be of use to some of you. We have also taken the liberty to add some of your really valuable emails to our live comments. VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 11


connie dines

“Artistic exposures one frame at a time�

Three Sentinals

conniedines.com

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conniedines.com

Sea Path

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JUDY MACKEY The Gatherings

judymackey.com 14 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


www.Dutchartgallery.net www.musecofineart.com

judymackey.com VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 15


Lunch in the Park

BAUER Logan Bauer LoganBauer.com

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ArtistPath.com

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Dyan Newton dyannewton.com

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dyannewton.com VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 19


Mirada Fine Art

‘Best Art Gallery’ -5280 Magazine, 2010 & 2012 ‘A Style-Maker’ -Luxe Magazine, 2010 ‘BestAmerican Colorado Gallery’ Art Awards, 2012 & 2013 ‘Art -Denver Lover’s Escape’ Life Magazine 2010 ‘Best of Denver’ -Westword Newspaper, 2010

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5490 Parmalee Gulch Rd. Indian Hills, CO 80454 (only minutes from Denver) www.miradafineart.com 303-697-9006 Featured Artiss: Andrew Baird, Pablo Milan, Lyndmila Agrich, Jeanne Bessette, Svetlana Shalygina, Laurie Justus Pace Bruce Marion, Time Howe, Wynn| 21 VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VLAllen Magazine

miradafineart.com


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Marzena Oberc-Habzda Captivated by the delicate harmony in nature.

marzenaoberc-habzda.com

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Kristine Byars kristinebyars.com

SITE.com Harry Oil on Canvas

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Sheri Jones sheriart.blogspot.com

Blue Bug 11x14 Oil on Canvas

Hot Rod 11x14 Oil on Canvas

On the Road Again

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CFAI.co Colors On My Palette

Terry Honstead

http://terry-honstead.artistwebsites.com http://www.cfai.co/#!colors-on-my-palette-interview/cy2z

When did you realize you loved art and wanted to be ‘an artist’? I have always loved art but I thought I could never be “an artist”. My dream as a kid was to work for Disney World as an artist, but I never knew how to go about trying. As a child, I won all the coloring contests that I entered, and loved it! I took one class in high school and should have taken another but I thought it was more inportant to take physics (YUCK!!) I went to college but only took one art class. It was so general with no help at all that I never took another one. It wasn’t until about 8 years ago that I started painting and learning (mostly teaching myself) and really doing art full time. Who has been the greatest influence from your past to mentor you to this career? My father has been my greatest influence. He taught me some things off and on as a child and always believed that I was good! He has always encouraged me as well. Who is your mentor today, or another artist you admire and why? Today I have a group of 10 other artists ( Studio 10) and together we help each other and learn from each other. I feel very blessed to be a part of that exclusive group because I have learned so much from them. I have taken workshops with them and done critiques, and entered shows and learned so much more than I ever could have had I been in this journey alone! What is your favorite surface to paint on? Describe it if you make it yourself. I love to paint on cradle boards, even though I don’t always get to. Ampersand is my favorite brand, but I love them all! What brand of paints do you use? When I am doing acrylic, I love to use Golden paints. They have a wonderful selection of mediums as well as great paints. When I am doing watercolor I use Daniel Smith. I use a variety of oils. And I make my own encaustic paints. Do you have a favorite color palette? I love the quinacridones. My favorite color is quinacridone nickel azo gold. What is your favorite color in your closet? My favorite color in my clothes closet is teal.

Read more at http://www.cfai.co/#!colors-on-my-palette-interview/cy2z

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Changing Times

Memories of the Past Read more at http://www.cfai.co/#!colors-on-my-palette-interview/cy2z VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 27


Lisa McKinney New Media Graphic Art

Insomnia

Lisa-McKinney.com Lisa-McKinney.artistwebsites.com www.lmckinneygraphics.blogspot.com

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International Voices - Speaking Through Art

Professional Artists - Join the CFAI Family. Collectors Discover New Art Daily. Membership Includes: • • • • • • • • •

Personal Coaching on Individual Art Marketing Strategies Heavy Brand Marketing of CFAI.co Member Artists Promotion of Artist’s Work on Multiple Social Media Sites Promotion of Artist’s Events and Workshops Professional Gallery Page on the CFAI.co Website Over 100 Specialty Art Blogs to Choose From Monthly Art Challenges at a Discounted Rate Quarterly Juried Shows at a Discounted Rate Eligibility for Inclusion in the Annual Collectors Book

http://www.cfai.co

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VL Shirley Quaid shirleyquaid.com

Art That Tells a Story Shirley’s art career started after she had raised her family but she is making up for lost time by painting every day. “As a small child growing up in rural Oklahoma, my favorite books were those about pioneers and Native Americans. As an adult these are still the subjects that find their way into my heart.” She says that every new painting offers challenges to work through as edges are softened, colors are selected and the thickness of the paint is applied with brush and knife to create an evocative response from the viewer. Her paintings have garnered numerous awards from the very beginning and have been collected throughout the United States. Now a Texas artist, she moved to the Houston area from Wewoka Oklahoma. She maintains a studio in Humble, TX and is represented by The Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas, TX.

Wash Day 8 x 10 inches Oil

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Red Bearded Gambler 20 x 16 inches Oil

Lonely Boy in Blue 11 x 14 inches Oil

Spinning Time 30 x 24 inches Oil

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VL Linda McCoy

lindamccoyart.blogspot.com

Life Through Art Linda McCoy paints and teaches art for sheer joy. She paints what inspires her emotionally and interprets the subject in a style that will befit it, from a tightly rendered still life to a painterly landscape. Her fascination with the complexity of abstract shapes is driven by color and she is intrigued by the diversity of different subject matter. Her relationship deepens and grows with the familiar scent of fresh paint, the liquidity of application and the raw challenge of a blank canvas, only to be brought to the bittersweet moment of completion with a finished painting. Linda McCoy is a longtime member of Daily Painters and her work is collected internationally. Most days find her at her studio/gallery, teaching and painting.

Gallery - Studio 209 S West Street, Mason Ohio, 45040

A Watchful Eye 24 x 24 Oil

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City Girls 24 x 24 Oil


Blue Bayou 12 x 12 Oil

Summer’s Song 12 x 16 Oil

www.cfai.co www.dailypainters.com www.dailypaintworks.com www.lindamccoyart.blogspot.com Autumns Challenge 12 x 12 Oil

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VL Niki Gulley nikigulley.com

Intrinsic Beauty Niki Gulley strives to capture the vibrant energy and intrinsic beauty of our natural surroundings so as to uplift one’s spirits and suggest childlike wonder. In order to achieve the desired mood for her work, she combines her impressionistic flair for painting, with a sculptor-like technique. By applying paint thickly using palette knives, the resulting style achieves a richness of depth that explodes with color, flows with light, and evokes an emotional response. By utilizing vivid hues and contrasting the play of light and shadow to create drama, her broad energetic strokes add to a sense of vitality and motion, bringing her landscapes to life so that the natural settings almost dance. Because of this unique blending of style and technique, her artwork has developed a loyal following and is recognized throughout the country in museums, galleries and corporate collections. Niki and her photographer husband share heir mutual experience as teachers, coupled with their traveling adventures by leading art workshops in both Europe and the United States through their Art Treks Workshops.

Sunfilled Moments Oil

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Arriving Home Tuscany Oil

Autumn Crescendo 36 x 60 inches Oil

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VL Cheryl Smith

cheryljsmithfineart.com

Something Simply Beautiful Art has been a personal endeavor of mine for years. Through all my life journeys, whether it was directed toward my personal or professional life, I would keep turning to my art and the desire to paint. I have worked with many types of painting medium, but found myself returning to the painting medium of oil. I love the way it makes me feel and how it can be turned into something beautiful. Through all my experiences with painting I have been blessed with the opportunities to work under some great painters. I believe you can never stop learning and always try to improve your work. My paintings are created with memories of familiar things and objects that catch my eye because of the color, shape. or just very interesting to me. I hope you enjoy and find my work interesting and that it touches your senses as well.

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VL Laura Brown

Laurabrownpaintings.com

New Inspirations The constant exposure to a variety of visual images influences my evolving style of artwork. Throughout my childhood I found myself drawn to children’s book illustrations. Later it was the work of painters from art history and contemporary realists. I began drawing and painting in reaction to those artworks. Now, bold contemplative explorations of color and compositions fascinate me. At the same time I love details of and the nuances of descriptive line. I try to communicate what inspires me. I find myself changing and trying new ways of creative expression yet, somehow I always return to the narrative. It is the story inspires me to paint. The story that is told by each new painting I begin is what interests me. I love the celebration of rich color balancing strong composition.

Engine No.97

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Skating Together


Snowman

Snow Fairy

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VL Nancee Jean Busse nanceejean.com

Painter of the American West Nancee Jean Busse can’t remember a time when she wasn’t processing her experiences and observations through drawing or painting. From elementary school through a graduate degree, painting was the thread of continuity that honed her love of art, nature, and observation. Many years of working as an illustrator, then art director of an educational publishing company provided an opportunity to learn and appreciate the value of strong design and simple forms. The color, simplicity, humor, and narrative quality of children’s illustration provided yet another springboard for visual expression. Always an active outdoor enthusiast, it was only natural that one subject matter that appealed to her was the natural beauty of her surroundings. The unsurpassed beauty of western Colorado provides the artist with unlimited opportunities to paint powerful landscapes and awe-inspiring wildlife. www.nanceejean.com www.facebook.com/nanceejeanbusse njovmc@gmail.com

Sunrise at Bosque

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Pleading His Case to the Elders

High Noon at Gateway

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VL Filomena de Andrade Booth filomenabooth.com

Experimental Abstract Strong composition, visual texture, bold use of color, and trusting her intuition are just some of the elements that Filomena employs in creating works that elicit emotional responses from viewers. Her work, at times, may be subtle, and at other times vibrant and bold. She is a prolific painter and credits her ability to master a variety of techniques to her experience as an art teacher and custom art designer. Filomena considers herself an experimental abstract expressionist artist. Her paintings often begin with thin washes of paint followed by layered glazes of color. The addition of collage materials, texture, and metallics may be used to enhance the composition as it slowly emerges from the canvas. The process involves the gradual buildup of many layers of color and texture to create the final image.

Golden Boy 24 x 30 Available at the South Hill Gallery, Lexington, KY

Fire and Ice

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Rained Last Night

Reflection

Sunset

Orange Vase

Her work is represented by The Good Art Company in Fredericksburg, TX and is currently in publication through Laila’s, a Canadian publisher of art prints. www.filomenabooth.com fil@filomenabooth.com

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Stanley Sherr StanleySherr.com

Evolving. Changing. Abstracting.

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StanleySherr.com

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!! !

Eric!Bodtker! Night Divine !

Wailea Starry Night 18 x 24 inches

Night!Divine!

!

Eric Bodtker ! ericbodtker.com

!

ww.ericbodtker.com!

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!


Richard Levine Pastel Painter

Landscape and Figurative

“Pueblo� New Mexico 19 x 26 inches

RichardLevine.net Email: artisanrichard@gmail.com

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Mid Summer Night’s Gathering 32 x 48 inches Oil on Canvas at Mirada Fine Art

Mirada Fine Art. Denver

The White Dog Gallery

MiradaFineArt.com

TheWhiteDogGallery.com Colorado

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RareGalleryJacksonHole.com

Laurie Justus Pace

Ellepace.com

Rare Gallery. Jackson Hole

South Hill Gallery: Lexington SouthHillGallery.com VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 49


artspan

Newest Works

Kim Heath

http://kimheathmetalart.com

Angela Ridgway

http://angelaridgway.com

Kyle Goodrich

http://kylegoodrich.com

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Carol Conner

http://steelroseart.artspan.com


Shirley Anderson Painting Landscapes and Florals in Pastel

Colorful. Sensitive. Bold.

Winding Path

Los Carneros

Up Against the Wall

shirleyandersonart.com email: sranderson0930@sbcglobal.net

vlrees.com

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AspenSPACES by Lelija Roy www.lelija.net

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www.lelija.net Art on a Whim Gallery 100 N Main Street Breckenridge, CO

lelija@lelija.net

227 Bridge Street Vail, CO www.artonawhim.com (970) 547-8399 James Ratliff Gallery 671 State Route 179--The Hillside Sedona, AZ www.jamesratliffgallery.com (928) 282-1404

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Joy To The World

Wailea Starry Night 18 x 24 inches

site.com

www.suzypal.com www.suzypal.blogspot.com 54 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


Suzy ‘Pal’ Powell SWS WyWS CFAI

www.suzypal.com www.suzypal.blogspot.com

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VL

VL Studio Visit

Vic Vicini

http://www.viciniart.com/ 56 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


Transporting you back in time.

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VL

Studio Visit

Vic Vicini

As a youth, I sort of became introverted and spent plenty of time drawing and creating an imaginary world after the death of my mother when I was 7 years old. My father, who was a carpenter by trade, needed someone to watch my sister and I so my Grandmother and Uncle joined us and raised us for pretty much our entire youth and adolesence. I spent many hours alone with a sketch book creating some crazy fantasy that filled my days for many years. Comic books and hot rod cars were a big favorite of mine when I was young. I spent many afternoons admiring the wonderful drawings in comic books and would study them for many hours. I loved to draw Spiderman or Superman in some thematic elaborate scene. I was not so intrigued by the story line but those crazy drawings that the illustrator put our hero’s in was more if an interest to me than the story itself. As for cars, I would create crazy looking cars with huge engines and large puffs of smoke and pretended that I was in some sort of car race. Boy that was fun! Those influences in those early years stayed with me for my entire life. I would move away from these subjects throughout the course of my life, but it remained with me in some sort of manner. Whether it was in design or color, the bold stories or the bold colors, these influences have always played a part in my development as an artist.

Flying Buck

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http://www.viciniart.com/ VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 59


VL

Studio Visit

Vic Vicini

58 Dodge Coronet

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Betty Menu

Coke Games

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VL

Studio Visit

Vic Vicini

I attended Wayne State University and studied Printmaking and Painting. Those years I spent at Wayne State was some of my more influential and enjoyable years of my life. It was a time of discovery and awakening for me. During those early years in my twenties, art was not accepted as a way of life within my family and it was not respected as a career path. However, life seems to balance itself out. After several years of attempting to work in other fields, art resurfaced and I pursued my life’s dream. Like many of us, life moves on. I got married and had two children. For over 15 years I stopped painting and drawing completely. However, my life changed in 1999 when I had the opportunity to meet Robert Vickery at an opening in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was considered the premiere egg tempera artist of our time (aside from Andrew Wyeth). His work inspired me to paint again. I spent the next few years, while working as a Data Technician, working with egg tempera. I loved the medium and enjoyed the craft that went into the process. The beauty of egg tempera is something that I will always respect. I created all my colors from dry pigment

Cat and Mouse

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Roll Over Cat

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VL

Studio Visit

Vic Vicini

After several years of painting in egg tempera I decided to take on oil painting again. Once I started, I never looked back. The freedom of the paint was something I really missed. In 2000, I started oil painting again. I took on all the traditional styles, whether it was still life, landscape or portrait – I took them all on. Never really establishing myself in any one particular theme, I challenged myself to paint many subjects. And boy did I ever! I painted over 600 paintings over a course of 10 years.

Superman Jar

http://www.viciniart.com/ 64 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


Super Games

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VL

Studio Visit

Vic Vicini

As time moved on I realized that you cannot hide from your past for very long. Water will always find its level. The influence of my youth and my fascination with nostalgia would eventually take over my art. I started to incorporate comics, classic cars, vintage toys and retro packaging into my work. These images began to dedicate to me the path of my art. I felt like Santa Clause painting these images as if I was actually crafting them myself. The colors, design and the freedom of painting these images made me feel like I was a youth again. Every time I start a painting I feel like a kid with a box of crayons creating some imaginary world that only I could appreciate. Painting has changed me in so many ways. The freedom to create an image based on a feeling or emotion is something that has provided me purpose. I suppose it is the colors, the nostaglia or the imagination that triggers many of these works but it is all about how one sees the world and how the world sees you.

Vic Vicini

Super Tear

http://www.viciniart.com/ 66 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


Super Space Age

http://www.viciniart.com/

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LAU RA R E E D

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Abstract Collage Paintings

laurareed.artspan.com Life Experiences VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 69


“ Walter” 52”x 66” Oil on Li

Olehoffstad.com 70 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


Ole Hoffstad

Olehoffstad.com

inen

Richard and Vincent , Oil on Linen 52 x 66 inches VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 71


shawnmorrel.com


Shawn Morrel Faces and Places

shawnmorrel.com


Shawn Morrel The world is made up of different faces with different experiences. Shawn Morrel enjoys representing aspects of different cultures and cityscapes in his artwork. Many of his paintings are inspired from travel and living in some of the most diverse cities in the world. Born in Toronto, Canada, he went to college in the United States, and has recently been living in London, United Kingdom. Continuously being surrounded by different cultures and languages has led to his motivation to further document this topic in acrylic paint. The subject matter within his paintings ranges from a community of martial artists performing Capoeira in tropical climates to children walking in arctic temperatures. His “Urban Moment Series� reaches viewers by creating a stylistic take on everyday life. Shawn’s passion for art started with drawing cartoon characters from television as a child. After developing his skills and style over the years, today his paintings appear in art galleries and book publications. He enjoys sharing his artwork with people and connecting with viewers of his art around the world. For more information, news, and upcoming exhibitions visit: www.shawnmorrel.com shawnmorrel@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/ShawnMorrelArtwork


Urban Moment

Brazilian Capoeira Moment

shawnmorrel.com


ricci victorio designbyricci.artspan.com

Nob Hill at Twilight - Acrylic

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Carol Nelson

Colorado Contemporary Painter

carolnelsonfineart.com

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VL VL

Mirada Fine Art

Denver, CO

Mirada Fine Art opened its doors in November 2009 with a philosophy that a fine art gallery should be more than just a building that houses art...no matter how spectacular the art is. There was no shortage of art galleries in the Denver Metro area at the time, and given the challenging economic climate, opening ‘just another gallery’ made no sense. But there was a void when it came to fine contemporary art that represented the spirit of the region, and housed in a space that was truly representative of Colorado’s cultural background. Mirada Fine Art is a truly unique gallery in a completely unexpected location. It’s housed in a building steeped in Colorado History – the Indian Hills ‘Trading Post’. Indian Hills is only 25 minutes from Downtown Denver, but it was once the summer campground of the Ute Indian tribe. Many years later it became a ‘mountain getaway’ for Denver’s elite. Some of Denver’s wealthiest residents built second homes in Indian Hills, a gorgeous mountain retreat that was an easy drive from their primary homes. The trading post was erected in the early 1920s to serve as the general store and sales office for this new community. For almost 100 years, this magnificent log building hosted a variety of businesses, but in 2002 the current owners performed heavy renovations to the building and in 2009 Mirada Fine Art opened its’ doors. “Our goal was to create a space – inside and out – worthy of the world-class artists we represent,” states gallery owner and curator Steve Sonnen. “Similar to the galleries you find on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, we wanted to create an atmosphere that would allow the art to really speak to our clients. Now we’ve been open for four years, and every day we see people transported out of their everyday lives, and completely immersed in the art.” In its first four years in business, Mirada has received an unprecedented number of awards and accolades. In both 2012 and 2013 the American Art Awards named Mirada one of the ‘Top 25 Galleries in the United States’. It was also voted the ‘Best Art Gallery in Colorado’ by 5280 magazine readers in 2010 and 2012. In addition, Steve Sonnen, the owner of Mirada, was named a ‘Style-Maker’ by Luxe magazine and an ‘Art Expert’ by Colorado Homes & Lifestyles. In the end, however, it’s all about the art. Mirada features award-winning artists from across the globe. The stunning artwork at Mirada has been meticulously assembled. Although the artists come from across the globe originally, Mr. Sonnen selected works that embody the spirit of the region. Mirada’s unique setting helped lure this amazing pool of talent – most of whom aren’t showing in any other gallery in Colorado. Artists of such stature as Andrew Baird, Pablo Antonio Milan, Marcela Panasiti, and Laurie Justus Pace are beautifully displayed on the old stucco walls. Today, Denver residents and visitors have a new destination when they want to immerse themselves in world-class contemporary art...Mirada Fine Art. Mirada Fine Art 5490 Parmalee Gulch, PO Box 85 Indian Hills, CO 80454 (only minutes from Denver) 78 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com www.miradafineart.com miradafineart.com


Inside MIrada’s historic building, award-winning contemporary art comes alive.

Mirada’s historic ‘Trading Post’ in the 1920’s.

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Mirada Fine Art

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Mirada Fine Art patrons enjoy the work of Pablo Milan.

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Andrew Baird at Mirada Fine Art, ‘Kate’, Original Acrylic on Canvas 52” x 45”

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Laurie Justus Pace at Mirada Fine Art, Mid Summer Night Gathering, Original Oil on Canvas 32” x 48”

Mark Yale Harris’ bronze sculpture “Tidbit’ in front of the work of Lyudmila Agrich miradafineart.com VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 83


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Domnique Samyn at MIrada Fine Art, ‘Sage’ Original Acrylic and Venetian Plaster on Panel, 40 x 32

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Don Scott Macdonald at Mirada Fine Art, ‘Airstream’, Original Oil and Alkyd on Canvas, 48” x 36” miradafineart.com VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 85


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Denver, CO

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Segment of Lyudmila Agrich’s ‘Underwater Flow,’ Original Oil on Canvas, 36” x 48” miradafineart.com VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 87


Kimberly Conrad Contemporary Artist

Christmas Aspens 24x24x1.5 Acrylic on Canvas http://KimberlyConradFineArt.com 88 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


“Pouring Color Into Your Life”

Winter Aspens 24x24x1.5 Acrylic on Canvas http://KimberlyConradDailyPaintings.blogspot.com

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Wintertide

vlrees.com

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Vicki Rees vlrees.com VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 91


Sara Mills

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NIKI GULL

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LEY

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Cold Day on the Marsh 9x12 oil

David Terrar davidterrar.artspan.com david_terrar@msn.com 301 253 4589

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Mark Yearwood

“Desert Bloom” 12’’x12’’ Mixed Media on Panel InArt Gallery 219 Delgado Street Santa Fe, NM 505-983-6537 www.InArtSantaFe.com

MarkYearwood.com

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ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight

artspan

Robert D Fiacco

Robert D Fiaco Robert D Fiaco

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Blood Money 24 x 30 Oil on Canvas

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ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight

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Robert D Fiacco

When did you realize you loved art and wanted to be an artist? When I was about 11 years old my father started a small business that involved selling reproductions of famous paintings; we had dozens of these paintings hanging all over the place. I absolutely loved these paintings and would spend hours copying them; I have been painting ever since. Who has been your mentor, or greatest influence to date? I don’t recall having a mentor per se; I have had outstanding teachers early on but never a consistent mentor. Winslow Homer has been a huge influence. I am especially impressed that he was able to transition from illustration to fine art. Who is another living artist you admire and why? Jasper Johns; his paintings are so unique and intellectually challenging. What is your favorite surface to create work on or to work with? Describe it if you make it yourself. I love texture in painting; I primarily work with canvas that is sized with heavy amounts gesso. What are your favorite materials to use? I primarily use oil paint and Liquin Impasto and Olepasto mediums. I am starting to explore encaustic. Do you have a favorite color palette? I prefer a cooler palette but I really don’t limit myself. How often do you work on your artwork? How many hours a week? I only average about 5-15 hours a week. What is the one thing you would like to be remembered for? Honesty and creativity in my artwork. There are many culprits that can crush creativity, such as distractions, self-doubt and fear of failure. What tends to stand in the way of your creativity? Often financial concerns get in the way. For example, I often take commissions, which are not very creative endeavors since the customer is usually very specific in what they want hence there isn’t much latitude for creativity. How do you overcome these obstacles? I try to be as frugal as possible and maximize my exposure through juried shows/art fairs. I have been successful in selling some of my artwork, including giclee reproductions without relying too much on commissions.

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Oriskany Rendezvous Oil on Canvas

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ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight

Robert D Fiacco

Close Air Support

Return to Happy Valley

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Cleared for Overhead

What are your inspirations for your work? I love narratives or stories of amazing feats. I prefer to illustrate dramatic events that occurred. I will research the specific event, learning the life stories of the people involved, and the exact details of the event. When you fully understand the people and the event; it is quite inspiring to paint it. What is your favorite way to get your creative juices flowing? I have two loud kids; sometimes, just having it quiet is enough. Which work of yours is your favorite? Oriskany Rendezvous is my favorite. I feel that the painting is dramatic and conveys a sense of foreboding associated with war.

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ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight

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Robert D Fiacco

Robert in his studio.

Downing of Flogger

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Hellcat Formation

B-24D Pelosti Raid

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ARTSPAN Artist Spotlight

Robert D Fiacco

Sea Hawk

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Getting to know you Q&A What is your favorite color in your closet? Light blue. What book are you reading this week? “Art and Perception”. Do you have a favorite television show? Not really; however, I often watch English or Spanish league soccer games. What is your favorite food? Italian. What color sheets are on your bed right now? Tan. What are you most proud of in your life? Taking care of my family. Who would you love to interview? Larry Gagosian. Do you have a passion or hobby other than painting? What is it? Soccer. Who would you love to paint? Nicole Kidman. If you were an animal what would you be and why? A golden eagle; being able to fly… can’t imagine anything better than this. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take three things, what would they be? A book, sketchbook, & my guitar. Share something with us that few people know about you. I believe in ghosts. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Spain.

Orion Tracking Kilo

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Pamela Blaies PamelaBlaies.com


sallieswiftart.com

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Sallie-Anne Swift Pushing Boundaries Abstract / Mixed Media Artist

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“The Wind Blows Where It Will”, 18 x 24, Mixed Media

“Laundry Day”, 18 x 24, oil

“Crimson Shirts”, 24 x 30, oil

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“Washed Clean”, 18 x 24, oil


Diane E. Fairfield Impressions of Glory

DianeFairfieldArt.com DianeFairfieldart@powerc.net

“Raindrops”, 10 x 30, mixed media

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Studio Visit Kari Tirrell VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 115


VL Studio Visit Kari Tirrell I never intended to be a professional artist. Like many artists, I drew constantly throughout my childhood. Although my lack of formal art education has not been a hindrance for me, had I known I’d become a professional artist someday I probably would have chosen to focus on art in school. At that time, though, art didn’t seem to be a good career choice. Being a “starving artist” didn’t appeal to me, and I didn’t want to teach, so drawing was more of a habit. It was something I felt compelled to do, but had no intention of doing anything with it. Many years later, when my kids were at an age where they were becoming independent and I started thinking about what I was going to do with my time, I decided to try painting and it completely changed my life. I painted abstracts in acrylic and sold them on eBay. It was great validation, super fun to find people liked my work enough to bid on it, and even more amazing to think about people in countries around the world hanging my work on their walls. Eventually, I switched from abstraction to realism, which also caused a switch in medium. I was now painting in oils. However, soon after changing to oils I stumbled upon the amazing pastel work of Alicia St. Rose. I had no idea such detail could be achieved with soft pastels, and I knew I had to try it. Her process looked painfully tedious, and I knew I didn’t have the patience to work like that, so I purchased various soft pastels, pastel pencils, and a variety of papers and set out to develop my own process. It took a lot of trial and error, but I was able to figure out how to get the results I wanted. Once I started painting realism, I realized brick and mortar galleries would be a better fit for my work than selling online. I had no idea how to go about getting into galleries, so I created a plan: I would join art organizations, get into their shows, and build up a resume. I decided three years would be a reasonable amount of time to give me the experience and a good enough resume where I could feel comfortable approaching galleries. I painted specifically for exhibitions, focusing on composition and lighting to make sure I was able to enter at least one award worthy painting into each show. I believe this focus helped improve my compositional ability as well as my painting technique. The awards my work received were validation I was heading in the right direction. My three year plan was successful, and although my first gallery ended up not being a great fit, it was a good learning experience in choosing the right gallery. I currently work with several excellent galleries, and I truly value my relationships with them. While I started my pastel career painting people and animals, over time I’ve gravitated toward painting still life, and I really enjoy it. I like the challenge of creating an interesting composition with inanimate objects. I like painting various surfaces (wood, glass, ceramic, etc.) and getting them to read accurately. My compositions have grown more complex; I like paintings that invite the viewer to stay awhile, something that will keep their interest over time. On the other hand, I also enjoy creating simple compositions, particularly when I can experiment with changing the scale of the objects.

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artspan

Saturday Evening Puzzle

I like to explore themes, repeatedly painting the same subject in different ways until I feel I’ve said as much as I want to say, and then I move on to something else. I typically enjoy painting things that touch on nostalgia. Old toys are a favorite. Right now I’m working on compositions with candy. I recently started working in oils again, in addition to pastels. My work is very time consuming, regardless of medium, but I feel so lucky to be able to do what I do. It is definitely work; mostly challenging, and sometimes even frustrating. But painting satisfies my soul as no other job could, and I plan on doing it as long as possible.

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Studio Visit Kari Tirrell

Banana Bread One

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Banana Bread Two

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VL Studio Visit Kari Tirrell

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Studio Visit Kari Tirrell

Train Wreck

Game Over

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A self-taught artist, Kari Tirrell spent her formative years drawing people and animals in graphite, charcoal, and ink. She won her first award in an art contest at age 11. After many years of drawing, Kari changed direction and started painting abstracts in acrylic, selling her work to collectors around the globe. After returning to realism, Kari’s work has been juried into many regional, national, and international exhibitions, and has received numerous awards. She lives in Gig Harbor, Washington, and is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Northwest Pastel Society, and a Distinguished Pastellist with the Pastel Society of the West Coast. Her work can be found at Meyer Gallery in Santa Fe, NM, Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento, CA, American Art Company in Tacoma, WA, and Kirsten Gallery in Seattle, WA.

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VL

Barry Scharf

Approaching the Holiday Season

Well it’s that time of year again when thoughts of the holidays that are fast approaching give us pause to reflect on what we give thanks for in our families and friends. As artists, we often think of gifts in a personal way. We draw and paint, we saw and glue. We manufacture our own gifts like elves toiling in the North Pole. All to often the industry product manufacturers want us to believe that they are in charge of gift resources. We need the latest cell phone, ipad or digital camera and only that will satisfy. We need to spend dollars in proportion to importance so that it is a reflection of how much we care. Our society and economy relies on our spending at this time of year and does everything it can to make us part of the mass hysteria and consumption. I say this thinking is misplaced and we need to remember what it is we are truly celebrating, for me it is gratitude for my life, family and spiritual awareness. It is true that many have lost or never gained a skill to create and so they have become slaves to the big box stores. However, it is not only about giving a gift so there is a way for everyone to share something from the hart. Creative’s like us are not forced into unnecessary spending. We can build a toy or make a hand made card, take a photograph, paint a picture or carve something in stone or wood. We have not forgotten our skills. We have honed them. I for one am grateful for this understanding and take pleasure in making personal hand made gifts. If you doubt that you have something to give other then paying for it, get over it, you do. You can create a loving gift and share it with an open heart. Its value is in the love it holds. This year look to your creative side for giving. Make it personal; remember the reason you are giving in the first place is to show gratitude and love.

https://barrywscharf.squarespace.com/ http://scharf62.blogspot.com/ www.linkedin.com/pub/barry-scharf-mfa/4/b29/3a0/

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Star

Heart of Gold

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artists of texas

Join the Artists of Texas in their 5th Annual Juried Show ArtistsofTexas.org

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“No Where But Texas”

The Dutch Art Gallery - Dallas, Texas

November 2, 2013 through January 11, 2014 Artist Reception and Awards Ceremony November 2nd, 11am through 6pm VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 127


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CFAI.co Monthly Art Challenge November Art Challenge “What’s on the Menu?”

Pamela Blaies

Enter today for your chance to win $100 cash and many other fantastic prizes! Open to all 2D visual artists worldwide. Open for entry until November 27th. http://www.cfai.co/#!art-challenge/chic 132 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


CFAI.co 2nd Annual “Colors of Autumn” Fall Juried Show 2013

Barbara Churchley

Deadline to enter is Friday, November 15thDon’t miss this fabulous show!

$500 in total cash prizes Plus much more! Open to 2D visual artists worldwide www.cfai.co/#!juried-shows/c19ne VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 133


DianeWhitehead.com

“Animals are my muse. The scratch of the paw, pounce of a hoof, gesture of the head, alert ear, quiet stride, powerful shape, ancient wisdom. All come to play with the shapes I see as I paint. “ 134 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


Diane Whitehead

DianeWhitehead.com

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VL

Artist Interview Jan Rigden-Clay

Artist Profile Early Years? I grew up in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand. We lived on a dairy farm at the end of a peninsular with no close neighbours but a lot of bush and ocean. Childhood experiences that enabled me to develop artistic talents? Because we lived quite a distant from anyone we learned to make our own fun. My mother was a school teacher and was always bringing home artistic projects – enamelling, basket weaving, bark pictures etc. My father tanned hides to make leather, turned wood and did taxidermy and so we were introduced to craft and art at an early age. I was also one of the first girls to be able to do Technical Drawing as a subject at High School and I especially enjoyed the perspective classes which later influenced my painting. When did you realise that art was your vocation? I always wanted to do something in art or music but this was not considered an option when I entered the work force. I consequently spent many years feeling frustrated until I met my husband Peter who encouraged me 100% and was happy to pay the bills while I studied and worked at being able to earn a living as an artist. I guess we are all products of our time and circumstances and my parents decided I should have a job in a bank when I left school! Is there such a thing as a normal working day when you are creating new work? I have always been very strict with myself and treated my art working days as any other job. I get up and go to work. If I am having trouble painting or working the glass there are always other jobs to do like stretching canvases, preparing glass rods etc – all the mundane things that need to be done in order to do the more creative work. I always set daily goals. The most difficult thing is that other people don’t think of this is a “real job”. It was quite important in the early days of having my studio and gallery that I discouraged people from dropping in expecting cups of tea and a morning chat! Now my genuine friends understand and it is not an issue.

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Is it possible for you to explain how you get your inspiration? I like a good challenge. That is my biggest motivator. I see something or have an idea and then I simply have to find out if I can do it. I never know what that will be! Have there been any particular artists (or others) that have inspired and motivated your creative activity? Of course all the photorealist painters have been a huge inspiration but also other people like Gaudi and Hundertwasser. People who have dared to be different inspire me, whatever field they may be in, especially those who give things the extra “yards”. I like things done professionally and well – no half way efforts! My son Shasa is a wonderful inspiration and a great example of someone who practices and perseveres until he reaches his goals. What would you say is possibly your greatest artistic achievement? Being able to make a living doing what I enjoy most. My greatest artistic achievement is always going to be my next piece of work! Do you have a future goal in mind? As I mentioned I love the work of Gaudi and it is my dream to turn my gallery building/home into my biggest work of art and for The World of Marbles to become one of Tasmania’s top tourist attractions. How different is the experience for you to do a commissioned work as opposed to doing something for an exhibition? I am very uncomfortable with commission work and try to avoid it. I don’t want to try to be getting inside someone else’s head. I am much happier doing what I like and if someone comes along who likes it enough to buy it then I am very honoured and happy. Exhibitions are also difficult because it takes so long to complete enough pieces for a show and I never seem to have enough. I am very fortunate that most of what I do sells – both with my painting and glass working.

Above: Breakout

Right: Nova

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VL Artist Interview Jan Rigden-Clay

Coming Out

Cluster

Ed and Bob

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Is it possible for you to say what balance of actual sight, subsequent use of photographic images, memory and invention might be employed when engaged with a work? I spend a lot of time inside my head thinking about what I am going to do and how best to do it. I rarely take notes but I take a lot of photographs which I put away for “one day�. If I have a particular project in mind I will spend sometimes days and weeks setting up things to photograph. Sometimes I will just wander around the streets looking out for intriguing and interesting things. I then play around on the computer although my computing skills are minimal and after that it is a mixture of using the photographs and inventing the rest. Intuition is much more useful than my lack of memory! Have there been any particularly memorable instances which came about because of your art? Too many to mention. Becoming an artist changed my life in so many ways. Most of all it is the many wonderful connections with so many very interesting and exciting people. I have been filmed for television shows and that was a lot of fun but mostly it is the people I have met around the world which is most special. If you were starting out again is there anything you would do differently? I would ignore the people who think making a living from art is not a real job and start twenty years earlier. What advice can you give to new and aspiring artists? Treat art as you would any other career and put in the long hours and hard work. But most of all allow yourself to have the dream and then set about making it come true.

Jan Painting

Marble 10

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Debbie Grayson Lincoln Texas Contemporary Western Illustrator NoworNever-Debbie.blogspot.com DebbieLincoln.com

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Meditating Moments.

Mary Jo Zorad ZoradArt.com

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Sunday Best

Felicia Marshall signature member AOT

feliciamarshall.blogspot.com

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Janet Bludau

Arlon Rosenhoff

Carol Schiff

Palette Knife Artists

Kim McAnInch

Mark Bidstrup

www.paletteknifepainters.blogspot.com

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Nancy Medina


Karla Nolan

Tammy Hext

Judy Mackey

www.paletteknifepainters.blogspot.com

Niki Gulley

Carol Schiff

Laurie Pace

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VL Photographer Spotlight Matthew McCarthy

http://www.mattmccarthyphotos.com

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artspan

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VL

Photographer Spotlight Matthew McCarthy

“I’ve had a long love and fascination with vehicles of all kinds - cars, trucks, airplanes, and so on. When it comes to cars, I have seen an unfortunate trend towards what I call ‘blandification’ - again, my own term - a design trend that has led to automotive design that is dull and uninspiring, regardless of whatever marketing technique is used to promote a vehicle. As an artist and a historian, I am keenly aware of the diversity of automotive design that used to exist, most notably in the cars of the 1930’s through the 1970’s. It is the elements of this diversity- the details, the sculptural designs of the automotive bodies, that I seek to capture in my work. It’s a blend of three of the great loves in my life - history, transportation vehicles, and photography.”

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VL Photographer Spotlight Matthew McCarthy

http://www.mattmccarthyphotos.com

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http://www.mattmccarthyphotos.com

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Photographer Spotlight Matthew McCarthy

http://www.mattmccarthyphotos.com

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http://www.mattmccarthyphotos.com

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Photographer Spotlight Matthew McCarthy

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artspan

http://www.mattmccarthyphotos.com

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CFAI.co Art Challenge

CFAI.co October Art Challenge “Farms and Barns”

Best of Show - Andy Smith http://www.cfai.co/#!challenge-winners/cb0j

Best of Show Afternoon at the Barnes’ Andy Smith http://www.andysmithartist.com 156 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


First Place Old Barn Series 11 Ally Benbrook http://www.allybenbrook.com

http://www.cfai.co/#!challenge-winners/cb0j VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 157


CFAI.co Art Challenge Second Place Hay Meadow Tina Bohlman

http://tinabohlman.com

http://www.cfai.co/#!challenge-winners/cb0j

CFAI.co October Art Challenge - “Farms and Barns� - $100 Cash Prize! Open to all 2D visual artists! Enter now www.cfai.co/#!art-challenge/chic Painting by Pamela Blaies 158 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


http://www.cfai.co/#!challenge-winners/cb0j

Third Place Long Road Home Barbara Churchley

http://www.barbarachurchley.com

Submit your portfolio to join

Contemporary Fine Art International http://www.cfai.co/#!join-us/cgs0

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A Christmas Story with Suzy Pal Powell

Wandering through a Christian bookstore in the late 90’s, Suzy Pal Powell stopped in front of the beautiful ‘wooly cards’ and sighed deeply. Her heart was moved by what lay before her eyes and she felt something in her heart beat a little faster. “God, I wish you would give me an ongoing card. I would love to share my gifts with others during the holidays bringing your love and light into the lives of others.” It was not long before Powell’s Snow Families were born. The first one she did for for her sister, a postal worker. From there the ideas just bloomed and her cards grew in popularity. Today she continues to paint her snowmen families. They are not religious as she had originally hoped, but on each card her testimony to the Lord is inscribed on the back. Powell says it is truly a blessing to do the personal paintings and see her client’s reactions. The stories grow each year as she continues to design special cards bringing in the joy of the holiday and making it personal and special for each customer. A Christmas Wish Come True.

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Holiday Snow Famillies Created Special for your Family. Contact Suzy Pal Powell and order yours today. http://www.suzypal.blogspot.com/

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VL OilPaintingDVD.com Step by Step Demonstrations

OilPaintingDVD.com

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Hall Groat II

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NO WHERE BUT TEXAS

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THE ARTISTS OF TEXAS

artistsoftexas.blogspot.com dailypaintersoftexas.blogspot.com VisualLanguageMagazine.com - VL Magazine | 167


The Five Graces Lincoln ~ Pace ~ Togel ~ Whitehead ~ Zorad

the5graces.com

Diane Whitehead

Conni Togel

Mary Jo Zorad

What makes The Five Graces special/unique? All members of The Five Graces create bold, vividly-colored artworks with an inspirational flair. Several of the group are excellent teachers and writers. They work energetically toward touring exhibitions that showcased their artworks - shows to the US and to Europe. All five artists are spread out over the US. 168 | VL Magazine - VisualLanguageMagazine.com


Who are The Five Graces?

Debbie Grayson Lincoln (the steady grace), Laurie Justus Pace (the heartbeat grace), Conni Tรถgel (the wired grace), Diane Baird Whitehead (the business-minded, directly spoken grace) and Mary Jo Zorad (the quietly inspired grace) have as many similarities as they do differences. Their artwork demonstrates a common commitment to a high standard of workmanship. To speak with any one of the five women reveals a commonality in what inspires them and how they choose to live their lives, with integrity and a commitment to doing their work for a higher cause. Each feels her creative inspiration as a passionate and natural calling.

thefivegraces.blogspot.com for daily updates

Debbie Lincoln

Laurie Pace

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http://davethepaintingguy.com/podcast/

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